The 35-year-old also revealed that he was always inspired as a child by stars who remained at the top of their sport for as long as possible, citing Usain Bolt, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Valentino Rossi and Michael Schumacher among his heroes.

The Wimbledon champion is back to third in the rankings list after regaining his crown at SW19 despite missing the last six months of last season and the clay court period of 2017.

Murray retains his no. 1 spot for now but Nadal is breathing down his neck after winning the French Open but Federer believes he can go past them both by the end of the year to regain a position he last held on November 4, 2012, in the aftermath of his last Wimbledon success.

“I think it's going to be a three or four-way race, or two-way race between me and Rafa Nadal,” he said. “I hope it's me and not Rafa because it means a lot to me to get back to number one.

“But my main target now is to enjoy being Wimbledon champion for a year. I haven’t sets sights on a number of Grand Slams that I have to or want to achieve. I never really had that. I was very content at 17, I must tell you.

“But I get inspired in a big way by the likes of Usain Bolt, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Valentino Rossi or Michael Schumacher, guys who did things for a very long time at the highest of levels.

“I would marvel at what they did when I was younger. I couldn't understand how they would get ready, day in, day out, practise, giving it 100 per cent. I struggled with that in a big way when I was younger.

“Eventually I have found my way to see what is possible and how to motivate myself. It's been really important in my life to be surrounded by inspiring figures. I take it mostly from sporting legends.”